I have some personal documents that must be translated into English. What will I get back and how much will it cost?MarCon charges a minimum $25 per page, or $0.10 per word in the Source Language. Generally speaking, personal documents like birth, marriage and death certificates are usually about $35 per page. However, if the document to be translated has a great many words or contains a large amount of formatting, MarCon will charge extra; any additional charges will be discussed before beginning the translation. You will be given two (2) stamped copies of each translated page, an explanation page, and a verification of the Translator’s qualifications.

Why won’t you translate this English document into French?Generally speaking, in the translation industry, a professional translator translates from their second language into their native language, unless the translator was raised in a bilingual home. This is not a hard and fast rule, but rather the norm.

Why won’t you interpret every job that you are offered?A professional interpreter knows his or her specializations, as well as the subjects for which they are completely unsuited. A professional interpreter, like any other professional, is bound by a Code of Ethics. See this link for the Nebraska State Court Interpreter’s Ethics Manual: https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/supremecourt.ne.gov/files/reports/courts/ethics-manual.pdf. Canon 1 of the Code calls for Accuracy and Completeness: if an Interpreter is not well-versed in the subject matter, s/he cannot ensure a complete and accurate rendering of the source language material. Furthermore, if s/he must continually look up problematic terms, vocabulary, and names, the integrity of the interpretation is compromised. Additionally, Canon 3 of the Code calls for Impartiality and avoidance of conflict of interest; a professional interpreter will decline to interpret if they cannot guarantee impartiality or the appearance of bias in an interpretation encounter. Finally, the professional interpreter is never obligated to interpret for any assignment.